Agonist polypeptide of receptor for Zot and Zonulin

ABSTRACT

Agonist polypeptide of a receptor protein has been identified. The agonist can be used to facilitate drug and antigen absorption. Suitable routes of administration include oral, nasal, transdermal, and intravenous. Pharmaceutical formulations may comprise a therapeutic agent or an immunogenic agent in combination with the agonist polypeptide.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/487,889 filed Jul. 15, 2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to the area of diagnostics, therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, drug discovery, and immunotherapy. In particular, it relates to manipulation and use of the Zot/Zonulin/receptor system to improve health.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intestinal tight junction dysfunction occurs in a variety of clinical conditions, including food allergies, infections of the gastrointestinal tract, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases (42). Healthy, mature gut mucosa with its intact tight junction serves as the main barrier to the passage of macromolecules. During the healthy state, small quantities of immunologically active antigens cross the gut host barrier. These antigens are absorbed across the mucosa through at least two pathways. The vast majority of absorbed proteins (up to 90%) crosses the intestinal barrier via the transcellular pathway, followed by lysosomal degradation that converts proteins into smaller, non-immunogenic peptides. These residual peptides are transported as intact proteins, through the paracellular pathway; it involves a subtle but sophisticated regulation of intercellular tight junction that leads to antigen tolerance. When the integrity of the tight junction system is compromised, as with prematurity or after exposure to radiation, chemotherapy, and/or toxins, a deleterious immune response to environmental antigens (including autoimmune diseases and food allergies) may be elicited. There is a continuing need in the art to diagnose and treat such diseases and conditions. There is a continuing need in the art to identify new drugs for treating such diseases.

Several microorganisms exert an irreversible cytopathic effect on epithelial cells that impacts cytoskeletal organization and tight junction function. These bacteria alter intestinal permeability either directly (i.e., EPEC) or through the elaboration of toxins (e.g., Clostridium difficile, Bacteroides fragilis) (43). The Vibrio cholerae phage CXTΦ ZOT protein mimics the human protein zonulin and exploits the physiological mechanisms of tight junction regulation. Zot possesses multiple domains that allow a dual function of the protein as a morphogenetic phage peptide for the Vibrio cholerae phage CTXΦ and as an enterotoxin that modulates intestinal tight junctions. Zot action is mediated by a cascade of intracellular events that lead to a PKCα-dependent polymerization of actin microfilaments strategically localized to regulate the paracellular pathway (38). The toxin exerts its effect by interacting with the surface of enteric cells. Zot binding varies within the intestine, being detectable in the jejunum and distal ileum, decreasing along the villous-crypt axis, and not being detectable in the colon (44). This binding distribution coincides with the regional effect of Zot on intestinal permeability (44) and with the preferential F-actin redistribution induced by Zot in the mature cells of the villi (38).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the invention is an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

A second embodiment of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease. The composition comprisies a therapeutic agent for treating the disease and an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

A third embodiment of the invention is a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue. A therapeutic agent for treating a disease and an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein is administered to a patient with the disease. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue. A therapeutic agent for treating a disease and an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein are administered via the nose of a patient who has the disease. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue. A therapeutic agent for treating a disease and an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein are administered via the mouth of a patient who has the disease. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

A sixth embodiment of the invention is a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue. A therapeutic agent for treating a disease and an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein are administered via the skin of a patient who has the disease. The agonist polypeplide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

A seventh embodiment of the invention is a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue. A therapeutic agent for treating a disease and an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein are administered via the blood of a patient who has the disease. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

An eighth embodiment of the invention is a method for identifying or purifying a human receptor of Zonulin and V cholerae phage CTXφ Zot. A sample comprising one or more proteins is contacted with an antibody under conditions suitable for antibody antigen binding. The antibody is raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5. Proteins in the sample not bound to the antibody are removed. Proteins bound to the antibody are identified as a human receptor of Zonulin and Zot or as forming a preparation enriched for said receptor.

A ninth embodiment of the invention is a method of screening for drug candidates for treating a disease. A first human protein identified by antibody SAM11 is contacted with a second protein selected from the group consisting of V. cholerae phage CTXφ Zot, human Zonulin, and MyD88. The contacting is performed separately in the presence and in the absence of a test substance. The amount of the first protein bound to the second protein in the presence of test substance is compared to the amount bound in the absence of test substance. A test substance is identified as a drug candidate if it decreases the amount of first protein bound to second protein.

A tenth embodiment of the invention is a vaccine composition for inducing an immune response. The vaccine comprises an immunogenic agent for inducing an immune response and an agonist of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein. The agonist polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.

An eleventh embodiment of the invention is a method of diagnosing an autoimmune disease in a patient. A first body sample from the patient is contacted with an antibody raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5. Amount of the antibody bound by the first body sample is compared to an amount bound by a second body sample of a healthy control who does not have an autoimmune disease. An auto-immune disease is identified in the patient if the first body sample binds more of the antibody than the second.

A twelfth embodiment of the invention is a method of treating a patient with increased expression of zonulin relative to a control healthy individual. An antibody raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5, is administered to the patient. Symptoms of the disease are thereby alleviated.

A thirteenth embodiment of the invention is an antibody which is raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5. The antibody binds to a protein expressed in CaCo2 cells that co-localizes with a protein bound by synthetic inhibitor peptide FZI/0 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3). The antibody does not bind to human or rat cells that express a recombinant human PAR-2. The antibody is not SAM 1.

A fourteenth embodiment of the invention is an antibody which binds to a protein expressed in CaCo2 cells that co-localizes with a protein bound by synthetic inhibitor peptide FZI/0 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3). The antibody does not bind to human or rat cells that express a recombinant human PAR-2. The antibody is not SAM 11.

A fifteenth embodiment of the invention is an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein. The agonist polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of Xaa₁ Cys Ile Gly Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 7), Phe Xaa₂ Ile Gly Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 8), Phe Cys Xaa₃ Gly Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 9), Phe Cys Ile Xaa₄ Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 10), Phe Cys Ile Gly Xaa₅ Leu (SEQ ID NO: 11), and Phe Cys Ile Gly Arg Xaa₆ (SEQ ID NO: 12). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length. Xaa₁ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Tyr, and Met; Xaa₂ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, and Gln; Xaa₃ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met; Xaa₄ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, Ala, and Gln; Xaa₅ is selected from the group consisting of Lys and His; Xaa₆ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met.

A sixteenth embodiment of the invention is an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein. The agonist polypeptide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: Xaa₁ Xaa₂ Ile Gly Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 13), Xaa₁Cys Xaa₃ Gly Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 14), Xaa₁Cys Ile Xaa₄ Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 15), Xaa₁Cys Ile Gly Xaa₅ Leu (SEQ ID NO: 16), Xaa₁Cys Ile Gly Arg Xaa₆ (SEQ ID NO: 17), Phe Xaa₂ Xaa₃ Gly Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 18), Phe Xaa₂ Ile Xaa₄ Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 19), Phe Xaa₂ Ile Gly Xaa₅ Leu (SEQ ID NO: 20), Phe Xaa₂ Ile Gly Arg Xaa₆ (SEQ ID NO: 21), Phe Cys Xaa₃ Xaa₄ Arg Leu(SEQ ID NO: 22), Phe Cys Xaa₃ Gly Xaa₅ Leu (SEQ ID NO: 23), Phe Cys Xaa₃ Gly Arg Xaa₆ (SEQ ID NO: 24), Phe Cys Ile Xaa₄ Xaa₅ Leu (SEQ ID NO: 25), Phe Cys Ile Xaa₄ Arg Xaa₆ (SEQ ID NO: 26), and Phe Cys Ile Gly Xaa₅ Xaa₆ (SEQ ID NO: 27). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length. Xaa₁ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Tyr, and Met; Xaa₂ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, and Gln; Xaa₃ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met; Xaa₄ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, Ala, and Gln; Xaa₅ is selected from the group consisting of Lys and His; Xaa₆ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met.

These and other embodiments which will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the specification provide the art with reagents and methods for treating diseases, diagnosing diseases, and discovering drugs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B Comassie (FIG. 1A) and Western immunoblotting (FIG. 1B) of the six HPLC fractions obtained from intestinal tissue lysates. The zonulin-positive fraction F5 showed a ˜23 kDa that was not present in the other five fractions.

FIGS. 2A and 2B. In situ immunofluorescence microscopy of rat small intestines exposed to either fluoresceinated FZI/0 (FIG. 2A) or FZI/1 (FIG. 2B). Note the fluorescence distribution at the upper third of the villi where the Zot/zonulin receptor was originally described (see ref. 44).

FIG. 3A to 3C. PAR-2-FZI/0 colocalization. Caco 2 cells were immunostained with either FITC-FZI/0 (FIG. 3A) or mouse anti-human PAR2 monoclonal antibodies (FIG. 3B). Overlapping of the two images (FIG. 3C) showed a co-localization of PAR-2 and FZI/0 immunofluorescent particles.

FIGS. 4A-4D. FZI/0-PAR-2 AP competitive binding experiments. Caco2 cells exposed to FITC-labelled FZI/0 (FIG. 4B) showed a significant number of fluorescent particles compared to the cells exposed to media control (FIG. 4A). An excess of PAR2-AP (100×) displaced FZI/0 (FIG. 4C), while 100× of a scrambled peptide did not (FIG. 4D).

FIGS. 5A to 5D. Actin cytoskeleton arrangement in Caco2 cells exposed to PAR2-AP (FIG. 5A), BSA (FIG. 5B), PAR2-AP+FZI/0 (FIG. 5C), or PAR-2 AP+FZI/1 (FIG. 5D).

FIGS. 6 a to 6B. Effect of MCP-II (FIG. 6A) and PAR-2 AP (FIG. 6B) on mouse intestinal TEER. Both MCP-II (∘) and PAR-2 AP (Δ) induced significant drops in TEER compared to control tissues (⋄). These changes were comparable to ΔG-induced changes (▪) and were completely prevented by preincubation with FZI/0 (x).

FIG. 7A to 7B. Effect of PAR-2 AP on intestinal TEER in wild type (FIG. 7A) and MyD88 KO (FIG. 7B) mice. In wild type mice, both PAR-2 AP (Δ) and ΔG (▪) induced significant drops in TEER compared to control tissues (⋄) that were completely prevented by preincubation with FZI/0 (x). No TEER changes were observed in MyD88 KO mice under any treatment conditions.

FIG. 8. Proposed activation of receptor by Zot and zonulin. As a MCP-II analogue, zonulin activates the receptor by cleaving its N-terminus, while Zot directly binds and activates the receptor via its PAR-2 AP-homologous N-terminal motif. The activation of PAR-2 by MCP-II and PAR-2 AP or the activation of the zonulin receptor by zonulin and ΔG is blocked by the competitive binding inhibitor FZI/0.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have developed an agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXΦ ZOT protein. The polypeptide comprises amino acid sequence FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4). The polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues, or less than 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, or 8 amino acid residues. The polypeptide may contain only the six amino acids FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4), or it may have additional amino acids. The other amino acids may provide other functions, e.g., antigen tags, for facilitating purification.

The agonist polypeptide can be used to facilitate absorption of therapeutic or immunogenic agents. The agonist polypeptide facilitates absorption across the intestine, the blood-brain barrier, the skin, and the nasal mucosa. Thus the agonist polypeptide can be formulated with or co-administered with a therapeutic or immunogenic agent which targets the intestine, the brain, the skin, the nose. A pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention need not be pre-mixed prior to administration, but can be formed in vivo when two agents are administered within 24 hours of each other. Preferably the two agents are administered within 12, 8, 4, 2, or 1 hours of each other.

Therapeutic agents according to the invention are any which can be used to treat a human or other mammal. The agent can be for example, an antibody or an antibody fragment (such as an Fao, F(ab′)₂, a single chain antibody (ScFv)), an anti-cancer drug, an antibiotic, a hormone, or a cytokine. The therapeutic agent can be one which acts on any organ of the body, such as heart, brain, intestine, or kidneys. Diseases which may be treated according to the invention include, but are not limited to food allergies, gastrointestinal infection, autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Celiac Disease, gastrointestinal inflammation.

Intravenous dosage compositions for delivery to the brain are well-known in the art.

Such intravenous dosage compositions generally comprise a physiological diluent, e.g., distilled water, or 0.9% (w/v) NaCl.

A “nasal” delivery composition differs from an “intestinal” delivery composition in that the latter must have gastroresistent properties in order to prevent the acidic degradation of the active agents (e.g., zonulin receptor agonist and the therapeutic agent) in the stomach, whereas the former generally comprises water-soluble polymers with a diameter of about 50 μm in order to reduce the mucociliary clearance, and to achieve a reproducible bioavailability of the nasally administered agents. An “intravenous” delivery composition differs from both the “nasal” and “intestinal” delivery compositions in that there is no need for gastroresistance or water-soluble polymers in the “intravenous” delivery composition.

The mode of administration is not critical to the present. The mode of administration may be oral, for intestinal delivery; intranasal, for nasal delivery; and intravenous for delivery through the blood-brain barrier. Other modes of administration as are known in the art may also be used, including, but not limited to intrathecal, intramuscular, intrabronchial, intrarectal, intraocular, and intravaginal delivery.

Oral dosage compositions for small intestinal delivery are well-known in the art. Such oral dosage compositions may comprise gastroresistent tablets or capsules (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th Ed., Eds. Osol, Mack Publishing Co., Chapter 89 (1980); Digenis et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 83:915-921 (1994); Vantini et al, Clinica Terapeutica, 145:445-451 (1993); Yoshitomi et al, Chem. Pharm. Bull., 40:1902-1905 (1992); Thoma et al, Pharmazie, 46:331-336 (1991); Morishita et al, Drug Design and Delivery, 7:309-319 (1991); and Lin et al, Pharmaceutical Res., 8:919-924 (1991)); each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).

Tablets are made gastroresistent by the addition of, e.g., either cellulose acetate phthalate or cellulose acetate terephthalate.

Capsules are solid dosage forms in which the biologically active ingredient(s) is enclosed in either a hard or soft, soluble container or shell of gelatin. The gelatin used in the manufacture of capsules is obtained from collagenous material by hydrolysis. There are two types of gelatin. Type A, derived from pork skins by acid processing, and Type B, obtained from bones and animal skins by alkaline processing. The use of hard gelatin capsules permit a choice in prescribing a single biologically active ingredient or a combination thereof at the exact dosage level considered best for the individual subject. The hard gelatin capsule typically consists of two sections, one slipping over the other, thus completely surrounding the biologically active ingredient. These capsules are filled by introducing the biologically active ingredient, or gastroresistent beads containing the biologically active ingredient, into the longer end of the capsule, and then slipping on the cap. Hard gelatin capsules are made largely from gelatin, FD&C colorants, and sometimes an opacifying agent, such as titanium dioxide. The USP permits the gelatin for this purpose to contain 0.15% (w/v) sulfur dioxide to prevent decomposition during manufacture.

Oral dosage compositions for small intestinal delivery also include liquid compositions which may optionally contain aqueous buffering agents that prevent the therapeutic agent and agonist polypeptide from being significantly inactivated by gastric fluids in the stomach, thereby allowing the biologically active ingredient and agonist polypeptide to reach the small intestines in an active form. Examples of such aqueous buffering agents which can be employed in the present invention include bicarbonate buffer (pH 5.5 to 8.7, preferably about pH 7.4).

When the oral dosage composition is a liquid composition, it is preferable that the composition be prepared just prior to administration so as to minimize stability problems. In this case, the liquid composition can be prepared by dissolving lyophilized therapeutic agent and agonist polypeptide in the aqueous buffering agent.

Nasal dosage compositions for nasal delivery are well-known in the art. Such nasal dosage compositions generally comprise water-soluble polymers that have been used extensively to prepare pharmaceutical dosage forms (Martin et al, In: Physical Chemical Principles of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3rd Ed., pages 592-638 (1983)) that can serve as carriers for peptides for nasal administration (Davis, In: Delivery Systems for Peptide Drugs, 125:1-21 (1986)). The nasal absorption of peptides embedded in polymer matrices has been shown to be enhanced through retardation of nasal mucociliary clearance (Illum et al, Int. J. Pharm., 46:261-265 (1988)). Other possible enhancement mechanisms include an increased concentration gradient or decreased diffusion path for peptides absorption (Ting et al, Pharm. Res., 9:1330-1335 (1992)). However, reduction in mucociliary clearance rate has been predicted to be a good approach toward achievement or reproducible bioavailability of nasally administered systemic drugs (Gonda et al, Pharm. Res., 7:69-75 (1990)). Microparticles with a diameter of about 50 μm are expected to deposit in the nasal cavity (Bjork et al, Int. J. Pharm., 62:187-192 (1990)); and Illum et al, Int. J. Pharm., 39:189-199 (1987), while microparticles with a diameter under 10 μm can escape the filtering system of the nose and deposit in the lower airways. Microparticles larger than 200 μm in diameter will not be retained in the nose after nasal administration (Lewis et al, Proc. Int. Symp. Control Rel. Bioact. Mater., 17:280-290 (1990)).

The particular water-soluble polymer employed is not critical to the present invention, and can be selected from any of the well-known water-soluble polymers employed for nasal dosage forms. A typical example of a water-soluble polymer useful for nasal delivery is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This material is a swellable hydrophilic polymer whose physical properties depend on the molecular weight, degree of hydrolysis, cross-linking density, and crystallinity (Peppas et al, In: Hydrogels in Medicine and Pharmacy, 3:109-131 (1987)). PVA can be used in the coating of dispersed materials through phase separation, spray-drying, spray-embedding, and spray-densation (Ting et al, supra).

A “skin” delivery composition of the invention may include in addition to a therapeutic or immunogenic agent, fragrance, creams, ointments, colorings, and other compounds so long as the added component does not deleteriously affect transdermal delivery of the therapeutic or immunogenic agent. Conventional pharmaceutically acceptable emulsifiers, surfactants, suspending agents, antioxidants, osmotic enhancers, extenders, diluents and preservatives may also be added. Water soluble polymers can also be used as carriers.

The particular therapeutic or immunogenic agent employed is not critical to the present invention, and can be, e.g., any drug compound, biologically active peptide, vaccine, or any other moiety otherwise not absorbed through the transcellular pathway, regardless of size or charge.

Examples of drug compounds which can be employed in the present invention include drugs which act on the cardiovascular system, drugs which act on the central nervous system, antineoplastic drugs and antibiotics. Examples of drugs which act on the cardiovascular system which can be employed in the present invention include lidocaine, adenosine, dobutamine, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and phentolamine. Others as are known in the art can also be used.

Examples of drugs which act on the central nervous system which can be employed in the present invention include doxapram, alfentanil, dezocin, nalbuphine, buprenorphine, naloxone, ketorolac, midazolam, propofol, metacurine, mivacurium and succinylcholine. Others as are known in the art can also be used.

Examples of antineoplastic drugs which can be employed in the present include cytarabine, mitomycin, doxorubicin, vincristine and vinblastine. Others as are known in the art can also be used.

Examples of antibiotics which can be employed in the present include methicillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin, cetoxitin, cefonicid, cefinetazole and aztreonam. Others as are known in the art can also be used.

Examples of biologically active peptides which can be employed in the present invention include hormones, lymphokines, globulins, and albumins. Examples of hormones which can be employed in the present invention include testosterone, nandrolene, menotropins, insulin and urofolltropin. Others as are known in the art can also be used. When the biologically active ingredient is insulin, the oral dosage composition of the present invention is useful for the treatment of diabetes. Examples of lymphokines which can be employed in the present invention include interferon-α, interferon-β, interferon-γ, interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-4 and interleukin-8.

Examples of globulins which can be employed in the present invention include α-globulins, β-globulins and γ-globulins (immunoglobulin). Examples of immunoglobulins which can be employed in the present invention include polyvalent IgG or specific IgG, IgA and IgM, e.g., anti-tetanus antibodies. An example of albumin which can be employed in the present invention is human serum albumin. Others as are known in the art can also be used.

Examples of vaccines which can be employed in the present invention include peptide antigens and attenuated microorganisms and viruses. Examples of peptide antigens which can be employed in the present invention include the B subunit of the heat-labile enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic E. coli, the B subunit of cholera toxin, capsular antigens of enteric pathogens, fimbriae or pili of enteric pathogens, HIV surface antigens, dust allergens, and acari allergens. Others as are known in the art can also be used.

Examples of attenuated microorganisms and viruses which can be employed in the present invention include those of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi and rotavirus (Fasano et al, In: Le Vaccinazioni in Pediatria, Eds. Vierucci et al, CSH, Milan, pages 109-121 (1991); Guandalini et al, In: Management of Digestive and Liver Disorders in Infants and Children, Elsevior, Eds. Butz et al, Amsterdam, Chapter 25 (1993); Levine et al, Sem. Ped. Infect. Dis., 5:243-250 (1994); and Kaper et al, Clin. Micrbiol. Rev., 8:48-86 (1995), each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).

The amount of therapeutic or immunogenic agent employed is not critical to the present invention and will vary depending upon the particular ingredient selected, the disease or condition being treated, as well as the age, weight and sex of the subject being treated.

The amount of ZOT receptor agonist polypeptide employed is also not critical to the present invention and will vary depending upon the age, weight and sex of the subject being treated. Generally, the final concentration of ZOT receptor agonist polypeptide employed in the present invention to enhance absorption of the biologically active ingredient by the intestine is in the range of about 10⁻⁵ M to 10⁻¹⁰ M, preferably about 10⁻⁶ M to 5.0×10⁻⁵ M. To achieve such a final concentration in the intestine, the amount of ZOT receptor agonist polypeptide in a single oral dosage composition of the present invention will generally be about 4.0 ng to 1000 ng, preferably about 40 ng to 80 ng.

The ratio of therapeutic or immunogenic agent to ZOT receptor agonist polypeptide employed is not critical to the present invention and will vary depending upon the amount of biologically active ingredient to be delivered within the selected period of time. Generally, the weight ratio of therapeutic or immunogenic agent to ZOT receptor agonist polypeptide employed in the present invention is in the range of about 1:10 to 3:1, preferably about 1:5 to 2:1.

Antibodies which bind to the protein identified by an antibody raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG (SEQ ID NO: 5) can be used diagnostically, therapeutically, and as a research tool. One such antibody is SAM11, which is available from Zymed Laboratories, South San Francisco, Calif. Other such antibodies can be readily made using standard techniques for raising monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Upregulation of zonulin receptors in diseases can be detected using the SAM11 antibodies or other antibodies that bind to the same human protein.

The antibodies can be conjugated to a diagnostically detectable label. For therapeutic uses the antibody can be conjugated to a therapeutic or toxic agent, including radionuclides, anti-neoplastic agents, etc.

The identification of binding partners for the zonulin and Zot receptor protein permits one to assay for test substances which disrupt the binding. Binding partners identified to date include MyD88, zonulin, Zot, and ΔG. Any assay for binding of two proteins can be used. These can be in vitro or in vivo assays. The assays may employ antibodies or solid phase binding substrates. Any such assay as is known in the art can be used.

Conservative substitutions, in which an amino acid is exchanged for another having similar properties, can be made in the agonist polypeptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. Examples of conservative substitutions include, but are not limited to, Gly⇄Ala, Val⇄Ile⇄Leu, Asp⇄Glu, Lys⇄Arg, Asn⇄Gln, and Phe⇄Trp⇄Tyr. Conservative amino acid substitutions typically fall in the range of about 1 to 2 amino acid residues. Guidance in determining which amino acid residues can be substituted without abolishing biological or immunological activity can be found using computer programs well known in the art, such as DNASTAR software, or in Dayhoff et al. (1978) in Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure (Natl. Biomed. Res. Found., Washington, D.C.).

Amino acid substitutions are defined as one for one amino acid replacements. They are conservative in nature when the substituted amino acid has similar structural and/or chemical properties. Examples of conservative replacements are substitution of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, or a threonine with a serine.

Particularly preferred oligopeptide analogs include substitutions that are conservative in nature, i.e., those substitutions that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains. Specifically, amino acids are generally divided into families: (1) acidic—aspartate and glutamate; (2) basic—lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) non-polar—alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan; (4) uncharged polar—glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine threonine, and tyrosine; and (5) aromatic amino acids—phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine. For example, it is reasonably predictable that an isolated replacement of leucine with isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine with a serine, or a similar conservative replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid, will not have a major effect on the biological activity.

Any assay known in the art can be used to determine ZOT receptor agonist biological activity. For example, the assay may involve (1) assaying for a decrease of tissue resistance (Rt) of ileum mounted in Ussing chambers as described by Fasano et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 8:5242-5246 (1991); (2) assaying for a decrease of tissue resistance (Rt) of intestinal epithelia cell monolayers in Ussing chambers as described below; or (3) assaying for intestinal or nasal enhancement of absorption of a therapeutic or immunogenic agent, as described in WO 96/37196; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/443,864, filed May 24, 1995; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/598,852, filed Feb. 9, 1996; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/781,057, filed Jan. 9, 1997.

Agonists of ZOT receptor will rapidly open tight junctions in a reversible and reproducible manner, and thus can be used as intestinal or nasal absorption enhancers of a therapeutic or immunogenic agent in the same manner as ZOT is used as intestinal or nasal absorption enhancers, as described in WO 96/37196; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/443,864, filed May 24, 1995; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/598,852, filed Feb. 9, 1996; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/781,057, filed Jan. 9, 1997.

Antibodies to the zot/zonulin receptor can be used as anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation that gives rise to increased intestinal permeability. Thus, the antibodies of the present invention are useful, e.g., in the treatment of intestinal conditions that cause protein losing enteropathy. Protein losing enteropathy may arise due to: infection, e.g., C. difficile infection, enterocolitis, shigellosis, viral gastroenteritis, parasite infestation, bacterial overgrowth, Whipple's disease; diseases with mucosal erosion or ulcerations, e.g., gastritis, gastric cancer, collagenous colitis, inflammatory bowel disease; diseases marked by lymphatic obstruction, e.g., congenital intestinal lymphangiectasia, sarcoidosis-lymphoma, mesenteric tuberculosis, and after surgical correction of congenital heart disease with Fontan's operation; mucosal diseases without ulceration, e.g., Menetrier's disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic gastroenteritis; and immune diseases, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus or food allergies, primarily to milk (see also Table 40-2 of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease Pathophysiology Diagnosis Management, Eds. Wyllie et al, Saunders Co. (1993), pages 536-543; which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). The antibodies can be administered to patients with cancer, autoimmune disease, vascular disease, bacterial infection, Celiac Disease, asthma, and irritable bowel synderome.

The above disclosure generally describes the present invention. All references disclosed herein are expressly incorporated by reference. A more complete understanding can be obtained by reference to the following specific examples which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Rat small intestinal tissues were analyzed by a combination of gel filtration chromatography and zonulin ELISA. Rat intestine homogenates were loaded on a sephacryl column (length 90 cm, diameter 2.6, cm calibrated with standard molecular weight markers) and fractions collected and analyzed by zonulin ELISA to determine zonulin concentrations. Of six fractions (F1-F6) tested, F5 contained the highest zonulin concentrations. Each fraction was resolved by SDS-PAGE, transferred, and immunoblotted with zonulin-immunoreactive, anti-Zot antibodies (FIG. 1B). Western analysis revealed two major bands that migrated with approximate apparent Mr of 24,000 and 23,000 in the zonulin-positive fraction, F5, while the zonulin-negative fractions, F1-4,6, each revealed only one immunoreactive band (˜24 kDa). Therefore, the ˜23 kDa band from F5 (see arrow FIG. 1B) was excised from a Comassie blue-stained gel and subjected to Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Search using the Profound search engine for protein matches (domain name 129.85.19.192, directory profound_bin; program WebProFound.exe?FORM=1) revealed a high similarity of this protein (estimate Z score 158) with the rat mast cell protease II 1). Mast cell proteases are serine proteinases contained in mast cell granules with trypsin-like (tryptase) and chymotrypsin-like (chymase) properties (46). Mucosal mast cells (MMC) contain predominantly protease II (MCP-II), whereas connective tissue mast cells contain mainly protease 1 (46). MCP-II is particularly abundant in the pulmonary and gastrointestinal (47) mucosa. In the gastrointestinal tract, one of the better-characterized bioactivities of MCP-II is the modulation of mucosal epithelial permeability following nematode infestation (48). In vitro studies suggest that MCP-II opens the epithelial barrier by disrupting the tight junction complex. Therefore, our proposed hypothetical model for the zonulin system and the established functions of MCP-II are remarkably compatible. However, we detected major differences between zonulin and MCP-II, including their sources (zonulin is present in enterocytes (49) and macrophages) and the stimuli for their release (intestinal worm infestation for and bacteria and gliadin [49] for zonulin).

We performed microsnapwell experiments in WBB6/F1-W/Wv mice that possess pleiotropic defects in germ cells, RBC's and mucosal mast cells and, therefore, lack MCP-II (55). Tissues mounted in the microsnapwell system and exposed at increasing time intervals (up to 3 h) to zonulin-releasing stimuli showed a TEER decrease (−170±15.8 0 mhs/cm2 versus −43±11 of untreated tissues) and a parallel increase in zonulin release (10.0±0.8 ng/mg protein vs 0.2±0.7 in untreated tissues) similar to that observed in wild type animals (−120±20 and 15.1±3.1, respectively).

Taken together, our data suggest that zonulin is distinct from MCP-II and may represent one of several physiologic activators of PAR-2 or a variant of PAR-2. Pancreatic trypsin is the most efficient activator of PAR-2, but there is a discrepancy between the availability of pancreatic trypsin and the distribution of PAR-2 (47). Biologically active trypsin is present in the lumen of the small intestine, where it may activate PAR-2 at the apical membrane of enterocytes (47), but PAR-2 is also found in many tissues where it must be activated by an as yet identified physiological activator (50). Zonulin represents a strong candidate for such a PAR-2 activator and may reconcile this apparent discrepancy, since it has been isolated both in intestinal and extraintestinal tissues (51).

EXAMPLE 2

We have previously demonstrated that Zot binds to the surface of rabbit intestinal epithelium and that this binding varies along the different regions of the intestine (44). The binding distribution coincides with the regional effect of Zot on intestinal permeability and with the preferential F-actin redistribution induced by Zot in the mature cells of the villi (38, 44). To further characterize the Zot receptor, we performed the following experiments.

A. Binding Experiments

Binding experiments were performed with several epithelial cell lines, including IEC6 (rat, intestine), CaCo2 (human, villous-like enterocytes), T84 (human, crypt-like enterocytes), MDCK (canine, kidney), and bovine pulmonary artery (BPA) endothelial cells. For immunofluorescence analysis, confluent monolayers (2.0×10⁵) on glass slides were incubated for increasing time intervals (5 min, 30 min, 60 min), at 4° C. or 37° C. with 5×10⁻⁹ M Zot or a negative control. Following incubation of monolayers with Zot (0.2 μM) for 15 min at 37° C., cells were washed 10 times with cold PBS, suspended and lysed. Cell lysates were resolved by SDS-PAGE, transferred to PVDF membranes, and probed with anti-Zot antibodies. To establish the specificity of Zot binding radiolabeled Zot was used. These experiments were performed in the absence or presence of either 10- or 50-fold molar excess of cold unlabeled Zot. When incubated with Zot protein for increasing time intervals, CaCo2 and IEC6 intestinal epithelial cells as well as endothelial cells displayed binding on the cell surface, as compared to cells exposed to the negative control. In contrast, no staining was observed on either T84 or MDCK cells after incubation for up to 60 min with His-Zot. The cell-specificity of Zot binding was confirmed by immunoblotting analysis. Zot bound to IEC6, CaCo2, and BPA but not to T84 and MDCK cells.

B. Purification of Zot-Binding Protein.

A His-Zot affinity column was prepared by immobilizing overnight, at room temperature, 1.0 mg of purified His-Zot to a pre-activated gel (Aminolink, Pierce). The column was washed with PBS, and then loaded with a crude cell lysate obtained using 106 of either IEC6 cells or CaCo2 cells. After a 90-min incubation at room temperature, the column was washed five times with 14 ml of PBS, and the proteins which bound to His-Zot were eluted from the column with 4.0 ml of 50 mM glycine (pH 2.5), 150 mM NaCl, and 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100. The pH of the 1.0 ml eluted fractions was immediately neutralized with 1.0 N NaOH. Collected fractions were subjected to 6.0-15.0% (w/v) gradient SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. The resolved proteins were transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane and subjected to NH2-terminal microsequencing using a Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems Apparatus Model 494. The eluted fractions obtained from both IEC6 and CaCo2 cells contained a single protein band with an apparent Mr of 66 kDa as observed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Treatment with neuraminidase reduced the size of the putative Zot receptor to 35 kDa, suggesting that this receptor is sialylated (51).

C. Characterization of the Zot/zonulin Receptor.

Our recent data suggesting that zonulin is structurally similar to mast cell protease (MCP)-II has led us to hypothesize that the Zot/zonulin receptor could be similar, if not identical, to the MCP-II proteinase-activated receptor (PAR-2). PAR-2 has several characteristics in common with those that we have described for the Zot/zonulin receptor. Specifically, mature PAR-2 is a glycoprotein of 68-80 kDa that is reduced to 36-40 kDa by deglycosylation (47). Similarly, the Zot/zonulin receptor has a molecular mass of 66 kDa that is reduced by deglycosylation to 35 kDa (51). Distribution of PAR-2 within the gastrointestinal tract (47) coincides with the Zot/zonulin receptor distribution in the gut (44). PAR-2 intracellular signaling involves activation of phospholipase C (PLC), protein kinase C (PKC) (52), and actin polymerization leading to cytoskeletal rearrangement (53). Zot and zonulin activate these same intracellular signaling pathways through a common intestinal surface receptor (38). Similarly to the Zot/zonulin effect in the gut, activation of intestinal PAR-2 results in increased intestinal permeability (54). Finally, PAR-2 is activated by cleavage of its extracellular domain by trypsin, creating a new N-terminus that acts as a “tethered ligand”. Exogenous addition of the peptide SLIGRL (PAR-2 AP), that corresponds to the proteolyically activated, newly created N-terminus, also activates PAR-2 independently of receptor cleavage (52). The N-terminus of the 12 kDa, biologically active Zot fragment (ΔG) encompasses the Zot extracellular domain (aa residues 288-399) that is proteolytically cleaved by Vibrio cholerae in the intestinal tract of the host. The ΔG N-terminus contains a peptide (FCIGRL amino acids 288-293) that is structurally similar to the agonist ligand motif of PAR-2. To define more precisely the structural requirements for engagement and activation of the target receptor, two ΔG mutants were synthesized by mutating either the putative PAR-2 binding motif (ΔG291) or the region just downstream from the ligand motif (ΔG298). These peptides were compared to ΔG for their capacity to bind to IEC-6 cells as well as for their biological activity on rat small intestine mounted in Ussing chambers. IEC6 cells incubated with ΔG291 (G291V) showed reduced binding to IEC6 cells as compared to cells incubated with ΔG, while no binding was observed on cells incubated with the ΔG298 peptide (G298V). Biological assays in Ussing chambers showed that ΔG291 had a residual, but not a statistically significant effect on tj disassembly, while ΔG298 failed to elicit any detectable permeating effect. These results paralleled the effects obtained with these two mutants in the binding assay and suggested that the G residue in position 291 and, most importantly, the G residue in 298 may play crucial roles in ΔG binding and activation of its target receptor, possibly through changes in the protein configuration. Currently, one of the major limitations in studying the PAR-2 functions under both physiologic and pathologic circumstances is the lack of specific PAR-2 inhibitors (52). Based on our structure-function analyses, we designed a synthetic octapeptide (corresponding to Zot amino acid residues 291-298) that encompasses the two G residues that we targeted for mutagenesis, but lacking the first 3 amino acid residues (288-290) of the putative ligand motif. This synthetic peptide, FZI/0, was tested on ileal tissue mounted in Ussing chambers either alone or in combination with Zot, ΔG, or zonulin. No changes in tissues Rt exposed to either FZI/0 or to the scrambled octapeptide (FZI/1) were observed. Treatment of ileal tissues with FZI/0 prior to and throughout the study period prevented the Rt changes in response to Zot, ΔG, and zonulin while the permeating effect of the three proteins was unaffected by pretreatment with FZI/1. These data strengthen our hypothesis that Zot and zonulin target the same receptor and suggest that FZI/0 may exert its inhibitory effect by binding to, but not activating, this receptor. To test this last hypothesis, we performed in situ binding experiments using rat small intestine incubated with either fluoresceinated FZI/0 or FZI/1. Tissue exposed to FZI/0 showed numerous florescent particles, while no signal was detected in tissues incubated with FZI/1.

EXAMPLE 3

The Zot/zonulin synthetic inhibitor FZI/0 binds to PAR-2. To establish whether FZI/0 binds to PAR-2, double label, co-localization immuno-fluorescence microscopy was performed in Caco2 cell monolayers. Briefly, cells were incubated for increasing time intervals with either FITC-FZI/0 or with mouse monoclonal anti-human PAR-2 antibodies, followed by incubation with rhodamine-labeled anti-mouse IgG antibodies. Cells were then washed 3 times with PBS, fixed in 3.7% paraformaldeyde in PBS (pH 7.4) for 15 min at room temperature, the cover slips were mounted with glycerol-PBS (1:1) at pH 8.0 and analyzed with fluorescence microscopy (ZEISS). Immunofluorescent particles were visualized in both FITC-FZI/0- and anti-PAR-2 antibodies-exposed cells (FIG. 3). Overlapping of the two images showed colocalization of the PAR-2 receptor and FZI/0 was evident (FIG. 3).

EXAMPLE 4

FZI/0—PAR-2 AP competitive binding experiments. The activation of PAR-2 requires binding of either its tryptase-generated, cleaved N-terminal portion or the synthetic peptide equivalent, PAR-2 AP, to the receptor's extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) (47). To establish whether FZI/0 binds to the same receptor domain, competitive binding experiments were conducted in Caco2 cells. Cell monolayers were incubated with FITC-FZI/0 (2×10⁻⁸M)) either in the presence of an excess of PAR-2 AP (10⁻⁶M) or a scrambled peptide and then analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Cells exposed to an excess of PAR-2 AP showed a significant reduction of FZI/0 immunofluorescent staining particles compared to monolayers exposed to the scrambled peptide (FIG. 4), suggesting that FZI/0 binds to PAR-2 and can be competitively displaced by PAR-2 AP.

Effect of the Zot/zonulin inhibitor FZI/0 on PAR-2 AP-induced actin rearrangement. It has been recently reported that activation of PAR-2 receptor by PAR-2 AP promotes cytoskeletal reorganization (53). To establish whether this effect can be prevented by the synthetic Zot/zonulin peptide inhibitor, FZI/0, immunofluorescence studies were conducted in Caco2 cell monolayers. Cells exposed to 10⁻⁶M PAR-2 AP (FIG. 5A) displayed dissolution of stress fibers whereas BSA-treated monolayers did not (FIG. 5B). These cytoskeletal changes were blocked by the pre-incubation with 2×10⁻⁶M FZI/0 (FIG. 5C), but not by the scrambled peptide FZI/1 (FIG. 5D). Therefore, PAR-2 AP and FZI/0 appear to bind to the identical structure on enterocytes.

EXAMPLE 5

Effect of PAR-2 AP and MCP-II on intestinal permeability. PAR-2 is highly expressed on the apical membrane of enterocytes and, presumably, regulates one or more enteric cell functions (52). We asked whether one of these functions could be the zonulin-mediated regulation of intestinal permeability in response to bacterial colonization. To explore this hypothesis, we tested the effect of both MCP-II and PAR-2 AP treatment on mouse intestinal small intestine in the microsnapwell assay. Addition of 10⁻⁶M PAR-2 AP or MCP-II (10⁻⁸M) to the luminal aspect of the intestine decreased TEER compared to untreated tissues and this PAR2-dependent decrement was completely prevented by pretreatment with FZI/0 (FIG. 6). These results provide one more line of evidence to support the hypothesis that PAR-2 is the target receptor for both Zot and zonulin and suggests that this receptor is also involved in the regulation of intercellular tight junctions.

EXAMPLE 6

Involvement of MyD88 in PAR-2 signaling. Many microbial structures, such as bacterial lipopolysaccahride or the fusion protein from Respriatory Syncytial Virus, as well as certain endogenous proteins, activate the cells of the innate immune system through intracytoplasmic signaling that is initiated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs; 55). To date, ten mammalian TLRs have been identified. Within the intractyoplasmic domains of TLRs and the Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-18 receptors, is a region of homology that is referred to as the “Toll-IL-1 Receptor” or “TIR” domain. The TIR domain is responsible for binding critical adaptor molecules such as Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 (MyD88). The striking similarity of signaling pathways engaged by PAR-2 activation and those engaged by TLRs (e.g., NF-KB, etc.; 52) led us to hypothesize that zot/zonulin might engage a member of the TLR family or a closely related protein. Therefore, we tested the capacity of Zot and PAR-2 AP to induce changes in intestinal transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was tested in wild-type mice and in mice that have a targeted mutation (knockout, KO) in the MyD88 gene (FIGS. 7A and 7B). The data in FIG. 7A indicate that both PAR-2 AP and ΔG induce a comparable drop in intestinal resistance over time in wild-type tissues, which was reversed by preincubation with the inhibitory zot peptide, FZI/0. In contrast, intestinal tissues derived from MyD88 knockout mice failed to respond to either stimulus to exhibit a decrease in TEER.

Taken together, these results suggest that Zot and zonulin activate the same receptor (a PAR-2 variant or homolog), possibly through two distinct mechanisms (FIG. 8). Our data support the notion that Zot binds directly to the PAR-2 (variant or homolog) ECL2 and activates the receptor signaling, while zonulin, as a MCPII analogue, may activate the target receptor by cleaving it at its N-terminus (FIG. 8). Moreover, we propose that PAR-2 (variant or homolog) may directly engage MyD88 through a TIR-like domain.

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1. An agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein, said agonist polypeptide comprising FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4), wherein said polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length.
 2. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide consists of amino acid residues FCIGRL (SEQ ID NO: 4).
 3. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide does not comprise residues 294-298 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 4. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is less than 50 amino acid residues in length.
 5. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is less than 40 amino acid residues in length.
 6. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is less than 30 amino acid residues in length.
 7. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is less than 20 amino acid residues in length.
 8. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is less than 10 amino acid residues in length.
 9. The agonist polypeptide of claim 1 wherein said polypeptide is less than 8 amino acid residues in length.
 10. A pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease comprising: a therapeutic agent for treating the disease; and the agonist polypeptide of claim
 1. 11. A pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease comprising: a therapeutic agent for treating the disease; and the agonist polypeptide of claim
 2. 12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the disease is a food allergy.
 13. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the disease is a gastrointestinal infection.
 14. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the disease is an autoimmune disease.
 15. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the disease is inflammatory bowel disease.
 16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the disease is Celiac Disease.
 17. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the disease is gastrointestinal inflammation.
 18. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is a drug.
 19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is a biologically active peptide.
 20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody.
 21. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment.
 22. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is a single chain antibody (ScFv).
 23. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-cancer drug.
 24. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is an antibiotic.
 25. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is a hormone.
 26. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent is a cytokine.
 27. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the ratio of said therapeutic agent to said agonist polypeptide is 1:10 to 5:1.
 28. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the ratio of said therapeutic agent to said agonist polypeptide is 1:5 to 2:1.
 29. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent targets the heart.
 30. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent targets the brain.
 31. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent targets the intestine.
 32. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic agent targets the kidney.
 33. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the agonist polypeptide is present in an amount sufficient to enhance absorption of said therapeutic agent in the heart.
 34. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the agonist polypeptide is present in an amount sufficient to enhance absorption of said therapeutic agent in the brain.
 35. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the agonist polypeptide is present in an amount sufficient to enhance absorption of said therapeutic agent in the intestine.
 36. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the agonist polypeptide is present in an amount sufficient to enhance absorption of said therapeutic agent in the kidney.
 37. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 12 to a patient with said disease.
 38. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 13 to a patient with said disease.
 39. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 14 to a patient with said disease.
 40. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 15 to a patient with said disease.
 41. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 16 to a patient with said disease.
 42. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 17 to a patient with said disease.
 43. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 33 to a patient with said disease.
 44. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 34 to a patient with said disease.
 45. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 35 to a patient with said disease.
 46. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering the composition of claim 36 to a patient with said disease.
 47. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering via the patient's nose the composition of claim 10 to a patient with said disease.
 48. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering via the patient's mouth the composition of claim 10 to a patient with said disease.
 49. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering via the patient's skin the composition of claim 10 to a patient with said disease.
 50. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target tissue comprising: administering via the patient's blood the composition of claim 10 to a patient with said disease.
 51. A method for identifying or purifying a human receptor of Zonulin and V. cholerae phage CTXφ Zot, comprising: contacting a sample comprising one or more proteins with an antibody which is raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5, under conditions suitable for antibody antigen binding; removing proteins in the sample not bound to the antibody, wherein proteins bound to the antibody are identified as a human receptor of Zonulin and Zot or as forming a preparation enriched for said receptor.
 52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of: immunizing a mammal with the preparation enriched for said receptor; harvesting antibodies from the mammal to form an antibody preparation which binds to said receptor.
 53. The method of claim 51 wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of intestinal cells, enterocytes, endothelial cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and lysates thereof.
 54. A method of screening for drug candidates for treating a disease, comprising: contacting a first human protein identified by antibody SAM11 with a second protein selected from the group consisting of V. cholerae phage CTXφ Zot, human Zonulin, and MyD88, wherein the contacting is performed separately in the presence and in the absence of a test substance; comparing amount of the first protein bound to the second protein in the presence of test substance to the amount bound in the absence of test substance; identifying a test substance as a drug candidate if it decreases the amount of first protein bound to second protein.
 55. The method of claim 54 wherein the second protein is Zot.
 56. The method of claim 54 wherein the second protein is Zonulin.
 57. The method of claim 54 wherein the second protein is MyD88.
 58. The method of claim 54 wherein the second protein is ΔG fragment of Zot (SEQ ID NO: 6).
 59. A vaccine composition for inducing an immune response, comprising: an immunogenic agent for inducing an immune response; and the agonist polypeptide of claim
 1. 60. A method of diagnosing an auto-immune disease in a patient, comprising: contacting a first body sample from the patient with an antibody raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5; comparing amount of the antibody bound by the first body sample to an amount bound by a second body sample of a healthy control who does not have an autoimmune disease; identifying an auto-immune disease if the first body sample binds more of the antibody than the second.
 61. A method of treating a patient with increased expression of zonulin relative to a control healthy individual, comprising: administering to the patient an antibody raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5, whereby symptoms of the disease are alleviated.
 62. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is cancer.
 63. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is autoimmune.
 64. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is vascular.
 65. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is a bacterial infection.
 66. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is gastritis.
 67. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is gastric cancer.
 68. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is collagenous colitis.
 69. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is inflammatory bowel disease.
 70. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is Celiac Disease.
 71. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.
 72. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is a food allergy.
 73. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is asthma.
 74. The method of claim 61 wherein the disease is irritable bowel syndrome.
 75. An antibody which is raised against amino acids SLIGKVDGTSHVTG as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5, binds to a protein expressed in CaCo2 cells that co-localizes with a protein bound by synthetic inhibitor peptide FZI/0 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3) and does not bind to human or rat cells that express a recombinant human PAR-2, wherein the antibody is not SAM11.
 76. An antibody which binds to a protein expressed in CaCo2 cells that co-localizes with a protein bound by synthetic inhibitor peptide FZI/0 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3) and does not bind to human or rat cells that express a recombinant human PAR-2, wherein the antibody is not SAM11.
 77. An agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein, said agonist polypeptide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of Xaa₁ Cys Ile Gly Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 7) Phe Xaa₂ Ile Gly Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 8) Phe Cys Xaa₃ Gly Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 9) Phe Cys Ile Xaa₄ Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 10) Phe Cys Ile Gly Xaa₅ Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 11) Phe Cys Ile Gly Arg Xaa₆, (SEQ ID NO: 12)

wherein said polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length, wherein Xaa₁ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Tyr, and Met; wherein Xaa₂ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, and Gln; Xaa₃ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met; Xaa₄ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, Ala, and Gln; Xaa₅ is selected from the group consisting of Lys and His; Xaa₆ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met.
 78. The agonist polypeptide of claim 77 wherein said polypeptide consists of six amino acid residues.
 79. An agonist polypeptide of a human receptor of zonulin and Vibrio cholerae phage CTXφ ZOT protein, said agonist polypeptide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of: Xaa₁ Xaa₂ Ile Gly Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 13) Xaa₁ Cys Xaa₃ Gly Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 14) Xaa₁ Cys Ile Xaa₄ Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 15) Xaa₁ Cys Ile Gly Xaa₅ Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 16) Xaa₁ Cys Ile Gly Arg Xaa₆, (SEQ ID NO: 17) Phe Xaa₂ Xaa₃ Gly Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 18) Phe Xaa₂ Ile Xaa₄ Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 19) Phe Xaa₂ Ile Gly Xaa₅ Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 20) Phe Xaa₂ Ile Gly Arg Xaa₆, (SEQ ID NO: 21) Phe Cys Xaa₃ Xaa₄ Arg Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 22) Phe Cys Xaa₃ Gly Xaa₅ Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 23) Phe Cys Xaa₃ Gly Arg Xaa₆, (SEQ ID NO: 24) Phe Cys Ile Xaa₄ Xaa₅ Leu, (SEQ ID NO: 25) Phe Cys Ile Xaa₄ Arg Xaa₆, (SEQ ID NO: 26) and Phe Cys Ile Gly Xaa₅ Xaa₆, (SEQ ID NO: 27)

wherein said polypeptide is less than 100 amino acid residues in length, wherein Xaa₁ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, Tyr, and Met; wherein Xaa₂ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, and Gln; Xaa₃ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met; Xaa₄ is selected from the group consisting of Gly, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Asn, Ala, and Gln; Xaa₅ is selected from the group consisting of Lys and His; Xaa₆ is selected from the group consisting of Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Trp, and Met.
 80. The agonist polypeptide of claim 79 wherein said polypeptide consists of six amino acid residues. 